Canada Post update: Labour dispute still looms
The threat of a labour dispute continues to loom over the Canadian postal sector. There were fears that a stoppage would begin on Saturday (2 July). That does not appear to have happened, and sources at the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reported that their members are prepared to report for work today (Monday, 4 July).
However, there has still been no resolution to the ongoing talks on pay and conditions. The main stumbling block to an agreement is the employee pension plan which is facing a $6.2bn solvency deficit.
In a statement issued on Saturday (2 July), Canada Post said that it was “extremely disappointed” with the response it has received from the CUPW at the bargaining tables.
According to Canada Post: “Late Friday evening, CUPW tabled offers that would add at least $1bn in new costs over the term of a new collective agreement while rejecting the Corporation’s approach to address the long-term issues with the employee pension plan.”
Canada Post continued: “In their offer, the union rejected any changes to the pension, more than tripled the Corporation’s proposed wage increases and demanded the immediate reinstatement of several changes agreed to in the last round of negotiations in 2012.”
The operator did add, however, that it “continues to remain at the table to negotiate an agreement that is reasonable and affordable”.
Local sources report that if there is no resolution to the dispute, a strike could start on Wednesday (6 July).
